Melaleuca xerophila facts for kids

Melaleuca xerophila is a type of plant that grows as a large bush or small tree. It belongs to the myrtle family, called Myrtaceae. You can find it naturally in dry areas of South Australia and Western Australia. This plant has thin leaves and pretty white or cream-colored flowers that bloom in spring.

What it Looks Like

Melaleuca xerophila is a big bush or a small tree that spreads out. It can grow to be about 3 to 6 meters (10 to 20 feet) tall. Its bark feels like paper or has many fibers.

• Leaves: The leaves are thin and shaped like a narrow oval. They are about 1.8 to 5.2 millimeters (0.07 to 0.2 inches) long. They are also about 0.9 to 1.5 millimeters (0.04 to 0.06 inches) wide. The leaves grow in a pattern, either one after another or in a spiral around the stem.

• Flowers: The flowers are white or cream-colored. They grow in small groups, called "heads," near the ends of the branches. Each head usually has one to nine flowers. The bottom part of each flower is about 1.6 to 2.2 millimeters (0.06 to 0.09 inches) long. Inside the flower, there are bundles of stamens, which are the parts that hold pollen. Each bundle has 15 to 22 stamens.

• Flowering and Fruit: This plant usually blooms in October and November. After the flowers, it grows woody fruits called capsules. These capsules are about 2.5 to 3.5 millimeters (0.1 to 0.14 inches) long and wide. They are shaped like a cup or a barrel. You might find them alone or in small groups.

Plant Name and History

The scientific name Melaleuca xerophila was first officially described in 1988. This was done by a scientist named Bryan Barlow in a science journal called Australian Systematic Botany.

• Meaning of the Name: The second part of its name, xerophila, tells us something special about the plant. It comes from two old Greek words:
  • xeros means "dry."
  • philos means "friend" or "dear one."
• So, xerophila means "friend of dry places." This name fits perfectly because the plant loves to grow in very dry areas.

Where it Grows

This melaleuca plant lives in very dry, or arid, places. You can find it in central South Australia. It also grows in Western Australia, from the Roy Hill area down to the Leonora and Laverton areas. It often grows in low spots near salt lakes. It prefers soils that have a lot of calcium carbonate, which is a type of lime.

How it is Protected

The Government of Western Australia's Department of Parks and Wildlife has looked at Melaleuca xerophila. They have decided that it is "not threatened." This means there are enough of these plants, and they are not in danger of disappearing.

Uses of the Plant

This plant has a few interesting uses, especially in very dry places.

Plant Oils

The leaves of Melaleuca xerophila contain a type of oil. This oil is mostly made of chemicals called monoterpenes. However, there isn't a lot of oil in the leaves, so it's not a main source for essential oils.

Gardening and Land Care

This plant could be helpful for fixing up land in very dry climates. It might be used in land rehabilitation projects. This means planting it to help bring life back to areas that have been damaged or are very dry.